News Analysis India

Tag: Haryana Government

  • Haryana wants new House, CM Manohar Lal Khattar writes to Amit Shah for land

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government seems to be following in the footsteps of the Centre. While construction of a new Parliament building in New Delhi is in full swing, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting to provide ten acres of land for constructing a new assembly building in Chandigarh, a Union Territory.

    Confirming this, a senior official said more space would be needed after delimitation in 2026 as the number of MLAs would rise from 90 to 122 while the present building can only accommodate 90 legislators. Also, new systems and technology needs to be incorporated. “Hence, the state government has requested for the land near the existing legislative assembly building,” he said.

    Last month, Speaker Gian Chand Gupta had written to CM Khattar to take up this issue with the Centre.A dispute between Haryana and Punjab has been going on over the present assembly building. The Haryana government complains that it has not got the due share of space as Punjab is in “illegal” occupation over a large part.

  • Minister Anil Vij says Haryana govt ready for impartial probe into ‘entire Karnal episode’

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said the government is ready for a probe into the “entire Karnal episode”, including an IAS officer’s controversial remarks and a police lathicharge on farmers that has triggered a sit-in outside the district headquarters.

    The minister made made it clear that “nobody can be hanged without a probe just because someone demands it”.

    Farmers have been protesting against a lathicharge on August 28 in which 10 people were injured when police used force to stop them from marching to the venue of a BJP event in Karnal.

    Their demands centre around the suspension of IAS officer Ayush Sinha, who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to “break heads” of farmers if they cross the line during their demonstration last month.

    ALSO READ | Farmers’ stir: Haryana govt suspends internet, SMS services in Karnal

    Sinha was the former SDM of Karnal before being transferred out as part of a larger bureaucratic reshuffle.

    Farm union leaders have maintained that transfer is not a punishment.

    “We are ready for an impartial probe, but this will not only be related to (former Karnal) SDM (Ayush Sinha), but the entire Karnal episode.

    In this (probe), if farmers or their leaders are found guilty, then whatever action is deemed fit will be taken,” Vij told reporters in Ambala.

    The minister, however, said, “Only genuine demands (of farmers protesting in Karnal) can be accepted.”

    “We cannot hang anyone because someone says so…..Is the country’s IPC (Indian Penal Code) different and the farmers’ IPC different? It cannot be like this and punishment is always given as per the offence committed. To find out the offence, a probe has to be conducted,” said Vij referring to their demand of suspending the IAS officer.

    ​ALSO READ | Punjab farmers call all-party meet on polls

    The Samyukt Kisan Morcha had earlier said a murder case should be registered against Sinha over his alleged remarks to policemen.

    About the farmers protesting in Karnal, he said anyone has the right to hold a protest in a peaceful manner.

    “Farmers are holding an agitation in Karnal which is their democratic right,” said Vij, while adding “our officials are regularly holding talks with them. Dialogue is an integral part of any democracy”.

    The Haryana government has extended the suspension of mobile Internet services in the district till Thursday midnight, an order issued by state Home Department said.

    “Mobile Internet services in Karnal district will remain suspended from 07:00 hours till 23:59 hours of September 9,” said the order issued on Thursday.

    Another round of talks between district officials and farmers protesting over the police lathicharge had failed on Wednesday after which the protesters said they will continue their sit-in “indefinitely” at the district headquarters.

    ​READ EDITORIAL |  Need to find middle ground to resolve farmers’ agitation

    Meanwhile, into the third day of the dharna, protesters are staying put at the gate of the mini-secretariat complex in Karnal, though farm union leaders have said officials and the public won’t be stopped from entering it.

    A mahapanchayat was held in the city and then the dharna began on Tuesday evening after an earlier round of talks between district officials and the farm leaders had also “failed”.

    Farmer union leaders had earlier sought registration of a case against those involved in the lathicharge in Karnal.

    The protest leaders had also claimed that a farmer died after the August 28 violence, an allegation rejected by the administration.

    The farm leaders had demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of the deceased farmer.

  • Farmers’ stir: Haryana govt suspends internet, SMS services in Karnal

    By ANI

    CHANDIGARH: In view of farmers’ agitation in Karnal, the Haryana government on Thursday suspended the internet and SMS services in the district to “prevent any disturbance of peace and public order”.

    As per a statement released by the state Home Affairs Department, the services will remain suspended from 7 in the morning till 11.59 in the night “in order to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours through various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc. on mobile phone and SMS for facilitation and mobilisation of mobs of agitators and demonstrators who can cause serious loss of life and damage to public and private properties by indulging in arson or vandalism and other types of violent activities.”

    Meanwhile, the internet and SMS services have remained disrupted in Karnal since Monday in view of the Mahapanchayat and call for gherao of the mini secretariat in the district in protest against lathi charge against the farmers on August 28.

    The farmers continue their demonstration outside the secretariat after talks with the district administration failed over their call for action against officials involved in lathi-charge.

    A Kisan Mahapanchayat was also held in Muzzafarnagar on Sunday against three farm laws by the Centre. It declared that they will campaign against the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections and the Mahapanchayat witnessed participation from various political parties.

    Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws.Farmer leaders and the Centre have held several rounds of talks but the impasse remains.  

  • Haryana extends COVID-19 lockdown till September 6, earlier relaxations to continue

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Sunday extended the COVID lockdown by a fortnight while allowing various relaxations permitted earlier to continue. The relaxations include the opening of restaurants, bars, malls, clubhouses and shops.

    “The Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana is extended for another fortnight, that is from August 23 (5 am onwards) to September 6 (till 5 am) in the state of Haryana along with guidelines to be implemented during this period issued vide earlier orders,” an order issued by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan said on Sunday.

    The order was issued in the exercise of powers under various provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

    As per other relaxations allowed earlier, conduct of entrance and recruitment examination by different universities, institutes or government departments and recruitment agencies will continue to be permissible.

    The order said that all COVID-related guidelines including those related to social distancing, sanitization and seating capacity, however, will have to be followed.

    Universities and colleges will be allowed to reopen for students for doubt classes, practical classes in laboratories, practical examinations and offline exams with strict adherence to the COVID-related norms, earlier orders provided.

    Vice-chancellors of universities in the state are advised to plan the reopening of universities from the next academic session and share the programme of the same with the concerned department of the state government.

    Immediate action may be initiated/ensured by the university administration to fully vaccinate all hostel students, day scholars, faculty and other staff including the outsourced ones, the order said. There will be a continuous focus on the five-fold strategy for the effective management of COVID-19, that is test-trace-track-vaccination and adherence of COVID-appropriate behaviour, earlier orders said.

    The state government has termed the lockdown “Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana (Epidemic Alert-Safe Haryana)” and it was imposed on May 3, 2021, and subsequently the same was extended from time to time on a weekly basis.

    However, from August 9, it has been extended by a fortnight.

  • Tokyo Olympics: Haryana to give Rs 50 lakh each to state’s nine women hockey players

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government will honour the nine history-making Indian women’s hockey team players from the state with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh each, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Friday.

    An equal amount would also be given to each sportsperson of the state who stood at the fourth position in any event at the Olympics.

    Till now there was no provision in the state’s sports policy to reward players finishing in fourth position in various events, the CM said later in the day in Rohtak “Haryana government will award Rs 50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympic women’s hockey team who are from Haryana,” Khattar tweeted.

    #Tokyo2020 में चौथे नंबर पर रहे खिलाड़ियों को भी हमने 50-50 लाख रुपये की इनाम राशि देने का फैसला किया है। इसके अलावा ओलंपिक में हिस्सा लेने वाले हरियाणा के प्रत्येक खिलाड़ी को 10-10 लाख रुपए इनाम के तौर पर दिए जाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/TtEKrHDKep
    — Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) August 6, 2021
    He congratulated the Indian women’s team for its best-ever performance at the ongoing Olympics, where it finished fourth after losing 3-4 to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off match in Tokyo on Friday.

    The Indians played their hearts out and overcame a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at half time.

    ALSO READ | Jharkhand announces 50 decimal land for hockey star Nikki Pradhan, basic amenities in village

    But a desperate Great Britain gave their everything in the second half and scored two goals to snatch the match from India’s hands.

    Back in Haryana and Punjab, families of many players remained glued to their television sets to watch in anticipation of an Indian win.

    At the end of the game, skipper Rani’s father Rampal told the media at his Shahabad home in Kurukshetra that the Indian team played well and were unlucky to lose out on its maiden Olympic medal.

    He said the team’s performance at the Olympics will have a positive impact on the game and will encourage youngsters to take up the sport.

    Goalkeeper Savita Punia’s father Mahender Punia said there was no need to feel dejected.

    “Match result may not be on their side, but they played really well,” he said.

    Neha Goyal’s mother Savitri turned emotional while watching the game.

    Notably, most of the women hockey players come from humble backgrounds.

  • Covid: One-hour extension in bar, hotel timings in Haryana

    By Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH:  The Haryana government has extended the coronavirus lockdown in the state by another week, till July 26, while allowing restaurants, bars and clubs to open for one more hour, up to 11 pm.

    According to the order issued by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan on Sunday, “The Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana is extended for another week, that is from July 19 (5 am onwards) to July 26 (till 5 am) in the state of Haryana.” Restaurants and bars including in hotels and malls are allowed to open from 10 am to 11 pm now as against from 10 am to 10 pm with 50 percent capacity, according to the order issued under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

    Home delivery from hotels is permitted up to 11 pm. Club houses, restaurants and bars of the golf courses are allowed to open with 50 percent seating capacity from 10 am to 11 pm, the order said. Gyms are allowed to open from 6 am to 9 pm with 50 percent capacity. Norms related to social distancing, sanitisation and other Covid-19 appropriate behavioural norms will have to be strictly followed, the order read.

  • SC directs Haryana govt to remove houses constructed illegally in Aravali forest area

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Haryana government and the other authorities concerned, to remove around 10,000 houses constructed illegally at Khori village in Haryana’s Aravali forest area.

    A bench of the Apex Court headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar and also comprising Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, in its order directed the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad, Haryana, and the concerned police (Faridabad) to ensure the eviction order of it, within six weeks.

    The Supreme Court bench, while refusing to stay the eviction of these illegal constructions, observed, “Land grabbers can’t take refuge of rule of law.”

    The Apex Court was hearing a plea seeking a stay on the demolition of around 10,000 houses that had constructed illegally at Khori Gaon, Faridabad in Haryana, believed to be in Aravali areas.

    The writ petition was filed before the Apex Court under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution challenging the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran Rehabilitation Policy.

    The writ petition filed before the Supreme Court claimed that the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad had allegedly demolished around 1,700 slums without following due procedure and law.

    “In our opinion, the petitioners are bound by the directions given by the High Court and the Supreme Court in its order of February 2020 and April 2021,” the Top Court said in its order today and fixed the matter for further hearing till July 27.

    “There cannot be any compromise with the forest land,” the Top Court said in its order today.

    The Supreme Court also made it clear that the Municipal Corporation Faridabad, will proceed as stated in February 2020 order and the state will give necessary logistical support to enable a corporation to fulfill the eviction order and clear encroachments on forest land.

    The Apex Court in its order also said that the DCP Faridabad will be responsible to provide police protection to the corporation officials in the eviction process. (ANI)

  • Covid-19: Haryana government extends summer vacations in schools till June 15

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Friday extended the summer holidays in all schools till June 15.

    According to an order issued by the Directorate of School Education, the state government decided to extend the summer holidays after taking the coronavirus situation into account.

    The state government had earlier declared summer vacations in schools till May 31.

    However, teachers will be attending to school work from June 1, according to the order.

    School heads will prepare a roster, according to which only 50 per cent of their teachers will be attending schools at a time.

    Teachers will be attending to necessary educational and administrative work such as preparing report cards of students and taking care of admission-related work, as per the order.

  • Beyond comprehension why Haryana government has not convened all-party meet on COVID issue: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

    Bhupinder Singh Hooda said he has continuously tried to awaken the government and also tried to raise awareness among the people.

  • Haryana govt to take action against those spreading rumours linking 5G network to COVID-19

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government on Thursday directed the district administration and state police to safeguard telecom infrastructure and other related assets and take “strict, coercive and immediate action” against those spreading rumours linking 5G network technology to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Misinformation attributing the fatalities and health problems being faced by the people due to COVID-19 is being attributed to the testing of 5G towers. This has led to some incident in the state resulting in mobile towers/network being damaged by some misguided elements,” state chief secretary Vijai Vardhan said in his letter issued to the DCs, SSPs and SPs on Thursday.

    In his letter, Vardhan said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has clarified that such rumours are misplaced as viruses cannot travel on radio wave/mobile network.

    He also mentioned that the Department of Telecommunications under the Union government has also clarified that linking the 5G network technology with the COVID-19 pandemic has no scientific basis.

    “Besides, the testing of the 5G network has not yet started in India. Hence, the apprehension that 5G trials/networks are causing coronavirus in India is baseless and devoid of any merit,” Vardhan said in his letter.

    “I would, therefore, advise you to safeguard telecom infrastructure and other related assets in your district and take strict, coercive and immediate action against any miscreant spreading such misleading rumours,” he added.

    According to official data, there are 62,352 active cases of COVID-19 in Haryana, while the death toll in the state has mounted to 7,205.